Andrew Kurz, a former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin, discusses the Affordable Care Act at the Palatine Library.

Andrew Kurz, a former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin, discusses the Affordable Care Act at the Palatine Library. (Posted By nwsvbofa, Community Contributor)

Palatine, IL – More than 130 people attended a public forum and town hall meeting about health care reform and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) at the Palatine Public Library on Wednesday, August 28th. The meeting was organized by Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action (NWSOFA), a nonpartisan volunteer organization dedicated to advancing progressive policies.

Andrew Kurz, a former Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Wisconsin, pointed out that the United States spends 18% of its GDP on health care, which is more than twice as much as other developed countries, but tens of millions of people are not covered. "The U.S. has the worst infant mortality rate of any industrialized country," Kurz said. "Other industrialized countries have far lower drug costs," said Kurz. More than half of individual bankruptcies are a result of health care expenses."

"Many of the major benefits of the ACA are not yet in effect, but consumers have favored every benefit that is now in effect," said Kurz. The ACA provides for "insurance at normal costs for people with pre-existing conditions."

Kurz answered questions from the audience. Asked what the ACA does to reduce insurance costs, Kurz said "it's amazing how many billions of dollars health insurance companies have spent excluding people from coverage. If everyone is covered, none of that expense is necessary." A Kaiser Health video titled “Health Reform Hits Main Street” was shown. The video pointed out that more than 30 million people are uninsured today. Under the ACA, people will have more options for obtaining health insurance. Medicaid coverage will be expanded, and working people will be able to buy insurance through health insurance exchanges established by federal and state governments.

Christine Johanson Ross, one of the organizers of the meeting and the leader of NWSOFA's health care action team, said, "We were thrilled by the turnout for this meeting. It shows that people in the northwest suburbs want to hear the facts, not just political spin."

NWSOFA will hold a panel discussion on health care reform and the ACA at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on October 15th. For more information, go to nwsofa.org or call (224)241-2012.

About Northwest Suburbs Organizing For Action

Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action (NWSOFA) is the northwest suburban chapter of Organizing for Action, a nonpartisan volunteer organization dedicated to advancing the policies that the American people voted for in 2012. As a grassroots funded social advocacy group, OFA is committed to tipping the scales of power back to the American people instead of special interests in Washington. OFA is working to advance policies like job creation, strengthening the middle class, gun violence prevention, comprehensive immigration reform and measures combating climate change that the majority of the American people support. More information at nwsofa.org or by phone at (224)241-2012.###